Are your parents the reason you’re lazy?

The University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine conducted a study that determined your genetics could be to blame for your unwillingness to go to the gym.

Researchers Franck W. Booth and Michael D. Roberts placed 50 rats in cages with exercise wheels. They recorded how often the rats used the wheels and sorted them on a spectrum of lazy and inactive to frequent exercise.

The rats that frequently exercised bred overwhelmingly with their fellow fitness buddies, whereas the lazy rats bred with fellow loafers, reports MSN. The offspring of the active rats displayed the same willingness and eagerness to run as their parents. The same correlation pattern occurred for the inactive rat offspring.

This pattern of behavior continued for ten generations. Roberts said, “Out of more than 17,000 different genes in one part of the brain, we identified 36 genes that may play a role in predisposition to physical activity motivation.”

There’s no proof yet that this gene or pattern is present in humans, but it may be next to be tested. Something to think about next time you look at your parents or kids.